Council fined over gas breaches

A London council has been fined after pleading guilty to a string of gas safety breaches, potentially putting the health of tenants in danger.

Inside Housing reports that Hammersmith & Fulham Council this month admitted nine breaches of safety regulations, with a further 14 to be considered in a separate hearing. The borough was fined £83,000 for failing to arrange gas safety inspections and ordered to pay £15,553 in court costs.

“We are asking for a review of all health and safety checks, how this is going to be monitored and a report at the cabinet level on a monthly basis,” said Labour councillor and Hammersmith & Fulham opposition leader Stephen Cowan.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Nicola Maisuiria expressed hopes that the case would send a “clear message” to other local authorities. A spokesperson for Hammersmith & Fulham said the council “apologised unreservedly” to tenants affected by its “administrative failures”.

The HSE was first alerted to the breaches by a tenant at a council-run hostel in Lambeth, who noted that the building’s gas appliances had expired safety certificates.